Green Bay Packers: Running game will come around once the games count
Green Bay Packers football and rushing prominence haven’t been synonymous in recent years, and this preseason hasn’t given us much hope for a big turnaround in that phase of the game.
If the two lackluster performances that have been the results of the first 120 minutes of Green Bay Packers football this preaseason are any indication of what is to be expected, then Green Bay might be in trouble.
When the fourth string quarterback is your leading rusher, there should be concern.
Taysom Hill – this preseason’s champion – ran the ball six times for 38 yards (6.3-yard average), with his 23-yard touchdown rumble providing the winning margin for Green Bay’s 21-17 win over the Washington Redskins Saturday night.
More from Lombardi Ave
- 5 things the Packers must do to win with Jordan Love
- Packers free agency update: All the moves Green Bay has made so far
- Packers: Pass rusher at No. 15 of recent PFF mock draft
- Packers: How has Aaron Rodgers fared against Jets’ 2023 opponents?
- Packers: A look back on Aaron Rodgers’ crazy moments in the media
It was a phenomenal night for Hill, who for now, appears to be a notch ahead of Joe Callahan for the third QB spot on the team’s depth chart.
That doesn’t say much for the Packers’ rush game.
Running backs coach Ben Sirmans has his hands full, one that includes bringing three rookies up to speed.
Saturday night’s anemic attempt to run the ball did see some plays that sparked interest into what this team is trying to accomplish. Included was a fine performance by Aaron Jones, who picked up 15 hard-earned yards and also scored a touchdown on a catch out of the backfield.
But take a look at the rest of the field: Devonte Mays carried the ball five times for 13 yards; Jamaal Williams got the bulk of the work, carrying seven times for a whopping 12 yards.
Kalif Phillips’ 17 yards on seven carries was tops among the running backs.
Without starter Ty Montgomery Saturday night, the Packers got a brief look at some potential among the rookies, but the vanilla approach to preseason game-planning this night certainly wasn’t a reflection of what this team’s running game will look like come September.
It’s a work in progress … with a lot of work and a lot of progress to achieve.
One published report suggested the Packers acquire former Eagles running back Ryan Matthews.
First, Ted Thompson has his team. He is not going to be out looking for a running back with what he has on the field. Second, Ted Thompson is not big on trading anything outside of draft picks.
Head coach Mike McCarthy hasn’t indicated he’s overly worried about that phase of the offense, but we all expect his expectations are that the rookies continue to show improvement.
Let’s just say one thing here – by midseason, one of those rookies will be getting the bulk of the carries.
Somehow that will happen, be it an injury or, God forbid, lack of production.
Half of the preseason is complete. There are still a couple of weeks for bubble players to make their push for inclusion on the 53-man roster. However, within the week Packers coaches will begin making decisions about which players are going to make it to that final roster.
In the meantime, we’re going to hear the confident-in-the-running-game comments coming from the administration and from the locker room.
Realistically, there isn’t any reason why this team can’t have an effective running game, given the elite level at which the passing game operates.
In the end, the running game should provide the Packers the complete offense that will once again place them among the top five teams in the league.
From there, with a little luck, the Packers should compete deep into the playoffs with a shot at another Super Bowl.
Next: Whose stock is up? Whose is down?
But judging from the current state of the rush game, that Super Bowl is a long way off.
Stay tuned …